Once the cheers finally settled and Jordan returned to the artists' section, Foca spoke again.
"We can't wait to see what you two have in store for us," he said with a warm smile. "Take it away."
The production team quickly placed a mic stand in front of Yen. Beside him, Zen clutched his handheld mic with both hands, knuckles tight, like it was the only thing keeping him grounded.
As the lights dimmed, Yen turned to his brother and nodded, mouthing, You can do this.
Zen nodded back—nervous, but determined.
With the first soft strum of Yen's guitar, fairy lights flickered to life across the stage. Their gentle glow spilled into the theater, wrapping everyone in something intimate, something safe.
Then Yen sang.
🎶 Oh fairy lights, fairy lights
Oh fairy lights, fairy lights 🎶
His voice was warm—smooth and comforting. The kind that felt like a hug you didn't know you needed. Grounded. Steady. The kind that settled right in the chest and stayed there.
Then he moved into the verse.
🎶 Every storm that we made it through,
Shaped the hearts we wear today.
So rise like a phoenix, rise,
Burn bright like the light of day. 🎶
It felt like he was singing to himself, to his brother, and to every single person listening—all at once. Each lyric dripped with sincerity, sending full-body chills rippling through the room.
Throughout the verse, Yen kept glancing at Zen, offering small nods and reassuring smiles.
Honestly—best big brother behavior. Top-tier. No notes.
As the pre-chorus approached, Zen lifted his mic, still gripping it with both hands, holding on like it was his anchor.
His body trembled with nerves—but then he opened his mouth.
And holy shit.
🎶 Hands up, hearts wide open,
Feel that magic in your chest.
Every scar is proof you're golden,
Yeah, you're doing more than your best. 🎶
Zen sang with his eyes tightly shut. His voice carried a quiet strength—light, airy, almost fragile. Like a little white bird perched on a branch at sunrise, brave enough to sing before the world wakes up.
Then came the chorus.
🎶 Let this little light glow,
Shine brightly as we grow.
Close your eyes and seize the moment,
Fly my fairy lights, light up the sky.
Light up the sky,
My little fairy lights. 🎶
When Zen finished, he cautiously peeked out at the audience.
And froze.
Everyone was on their feet—swaying, clapping, crying. Faces lit with hope, joy, and unashamed tears. Not a single soul was sitting.
Yen shot him a proud smile that said, You're killing it. Keep going.
Zen couldn't help it—he broke into a small, shy smile. The kind that melted hearts instantly. Even the coldest, most stone-hearted bitches didn't stand a chance.
Yen continued into the second verse.
🎶 I wake up every morning, I talk to myself,
Keep telling me I did so well.
Don't stress what tomorrow brings,
The chalice of joy—today you drink. 🎶
Then, as the next lines came, Yen pointed at Zen—passing the moment to him. Telling him without words: Spread your wings.
🎶 Mirror talks and midnight dreams,
We're braver than we've ever been.
Every step, every try,
Another spark in the night sky. 🎶
Zen was visibly coming out of his shell now. His posture relaxed. His voice grew bolder—stretching, soaring, ready for flight.
When the pre-chorus returned, he still held the mic with both hands, but they were steady now. This time, the emotion poured out—raw, sincere, and achingly pure.
🎶 If you're lost, I'll walk beside you,
If you fall, I'll help you rise.
Every wish you're scared to whisper,
Is already alive inside. 🎶
He turned to Yen as he sang—directly to him. The moment was so real, so tender, people in the audience clutched their chests like they might actually combust from the wholesomeness.
As Yen carried the chorus, Zen began adding ad-libs.
Yen smiled brightly.
Oh—he knew.
This was it.
Zen was about to wreck the room.
And then—the moment arrived.
🎶 My little fairy lights. 🎶
Zen's voice took full flight.
He belted the note—strong, soaring—and held it there.
The audience lost their damn minds.
Cheers erupted. Screams filled the theater. Foca, Luca, and Tuesday stared at each other in stunned disbelief, laughter bursting out of them like, Is this real life?
That shy little bird?
A whole white phoenix in disguise.
Yen pumped his fist internally, pride swelling in his chest.
As the bridge arrived, Yen stepped forward too—refusing to be overshadowed, reminding everyone exactly who he was.
🎶 Do I believe in fairies?
I do, I do, I do.
I'm my own fairy,
Making dreams come true.
No wand, no wings—just heart and fire,
Hope pulling me higher and higher. 🎶
His delivery was delicate and sincere, like a nightingale under moonlight—perfectly contrasting Zen's power.
Individually strong.
Together?
Otherworldly.
The final chorus hit—Zen soaring once more, Yen grounding the song with warmth as he sang the outro.
The theater turned into a full-on celebration. People danced, cried, laughed—living in the moment with the brothers on stage.
And just to really make a point?
Zen belted one final high note—his third—right at the climax.
Absolute chaos.
The last soft strum of the guitar echoed through the theater.
Silence.
Then—thunderous applause.
Already standing, the crowd stayed on their feet.
Zen ran straight into Yen's arms, and Yen wrapped him in a tight hug. Both of them were smiling—bright, breathless, victorious.
"I'm proud of you, Z," Yen said. "You did it."
"No," Zen replied softly. "We did it. You and me, Yenny."
They leaned in, foreheads touching.
"Damn right we did," Yen said.
And just like that, two brothers soared—breaking through dark clouds, flying above the storm, lights blazing against the sky.
****
PS - You can listen to "Fairy Lights" in full at YouTube (@FocacciaBread-Music), Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/album/0xji4qv6yxhUqsjsWAQw0u?si=qG-mNhHjSxOwk-4Uhc2guw) or other digital streaming platforms.
****
Full Lyrics:
[Intro]
Oh fairy lights, fairy lights
Oh fairy lights, fairy lights
[Verse 1]
Every storm that we made it through,
Shaped the hearts we wear today.
So rise like a phoenix, rise,
Burn bright like the light of day.
Be weird, be cringe, yeah it's all cool,
Embrace yourself, don't let them fool you.
Let that light shine like a lighthouse,
Leading lost souls to a safe house.
[Pre-Chorus]
Hands up, hearts wide open,
Feel that magic in your chest.
Every scar is proof you're golden,
Yeah, you're doing more than your best.
[Chorus]
Let this little light glow,
Shine brightly as we grow.
Close your eyes and seize the moment,
Fly my fairy lights, light up the sky.
Light up the sky,
My little fairy lights.
[Verse 2]
I wake up every morning, I talk to myself,
Keep telling me I did so well.
Don't stress what tomorrow brings,
The chalice of joy—today you drink.
Mirror talks and midnight dreams,
We're braver than we've ever been.
Every step, every try,
Another spark in the night sky.
[Pre-Chorus 2]
If you're lost, I'll walk beside you,
If you fall, I'll help you rise.
Every wish you're scared to whisper,
Is already alive inside.
[Chorus]
Let this little light glow,
Shine brightly as we grow.
Close your eyes and seize the moment,
Fly my fairy lights, light up the sky.
Light up the sky,
My little fairy lights.
[Bridge]
Do I believe in fairies?
I do, I do, I do.
I'm my own fairy,
Making dreams come true.
No wand, no wings—just heart and fire,
Hope pulling me higher and higher.
[Final Chorus]
Let this little light glow,
Shine brightly as we grow.
Close your eyes and seize the moment,
Fly my fairy lights, light up the sky.
Light up the sky—
Yeah, we're fairy lights.
[Outro]
Hold on tight, don't dim your shine,
This little light of yours is mine.
Side by side, we own the night,
Forever glowing… fairy lights.
Little fairy lights,
Let your light shine.